Mark 3:4
New International Version
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

New Living Translation
Then he turned to his critics and asked, “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

English Standard Version
And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

Berean Standard Bible
And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

Berean Literal Bible
And He says to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbaths to do good, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

King James Bible
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

New King James Version
Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

New American Standard Bible
And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

NASB 1995
And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

NASB 1977
And He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

Legacy Standard Bible
And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

Amplified Bible
He asked them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent.

Christian Standard Bible
Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill? ” But they were silent.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do what is good or to do what is evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.

American Standard Version
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Contemporary English Version
Then he asked, "On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone's life or destroy it?" But no one said a word.

English Revised Version
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? to save a life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then he asked them, "Is it right to do good or to do evil on the day of worship, to give a person back his health or to let him die?" But they were silent.

Good News Translation
Then he asked the people, "What does our Law allow us to do on the Sabbath? To help or to harm? To save someone's life or to destroy it?" But they did not say a thing.

International Standard Version
Then he asked them, "Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on Sabbath days, to save a life or to destroy it?" But they remained silent.

Majority Standard Bible
And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent.

NET Bible
Then he said to them, "Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?" But they were silent.

New Heart English Bible
And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

Webster's Bible Translation
And he saith to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? but they held their peace.

Weymouth New Testament
Then He asked them, "Are we allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? to save a life, or to destroy one?" They remained silent.

World English Bible
He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good or to do harm? To save a life or to kill?” But they were silent.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And He says to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? To save life, or to kill?” But they were silent.

Berean Literal Bible
And He says to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbaths to do good, or to do evil, to save life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith to them, 'Is it lawful on the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? life to save, or to kill?' but they were silent.

Smith's Literal Translation
And he says to them, Is it lawful in the sabbaths to do good, or to do evil? to save a soul, or to kill? And they were silent.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he saith to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy? But they held their peace.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to them: “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbaths, or to do evil, to give health to a life, or to destroy?” But they remained silent.

New American Bible
Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” But they remained silent.

New Revised Standard Version
Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then he said to them also, Is it lawful to do good or evil on the sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it? But they were silent.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
But he said also to them, “Is it legal to do what is good on the Sabbath or what is evil; to save life or to destroy?” But they were silent.
NT Translations
Anderson New Testament
And he said to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath-day, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they were silent.

Godbey New Testament
And He says to them; Is it lawful to do good or to do evil on the Sabbath; to save life, or to kill? And they were silent.

Haweis New Testament
And he saith to them, Is it lawful on the sabbath day to do good, or to do evil, to preserve life, or to kill? but they were silent.

Mace New Testament
and he ask'd them, is it allowed to do good, or to do mischief on the sabbath-days? to save life, or to kill? but they were very silent.

Weymouth New Testament
Then He asked them, "Are we allowed to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil? to save a life, or to destroy one?" They remained silent.

Worrell New Testament
And He saith to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good, or to do harm, to save a life, or to kill?" But they were silent.

Worsley New Testament
then saith He to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? but they were silent.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
3Then Jesus said to the man with the withered hand, “Stand up among us.” 4And He asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” But they were silent. 5Jesus looked around at them with anger and sorrow at their hardness of heart. Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and it was restored.…

Cross References
Matthew 12:10-12
and a man with a withered hand was there. In order to accuse Jesus, they asked Him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” / He replied, “If one of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? / How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:9
Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”

John 7:23
If a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses will not be broken, why are you angry with Me for making the whole man well on the Sabbath?

Matthew 9:12-13
On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. / But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Luke 14:3-5
So Jesus asked the experts in the law and the Pharisees, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” / But they remained silent. Then Jesus took hold of the man, healed him, and sent him on his way. / And He asked them, “Which of you whose son or ox falls into a pit on the Sabbath day will not immediately pull him out?”

Matthew 5:17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have not come to abolish them, but to fulfill them.

Luke 13:14-16
But the synagogue leader was indignant that Jesus had healed on the Sabbath. “There are six days for work,” he told the crowd. “So come and be healed on those days and not on the Sabbath.” / “You hypocrites!” the Lord replied. “Does not each of you on the Sabbath untie his ox or donkey from the stall and lead it to water? / Then should not this daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has kept bound for eighteen long years, be released from her bondage on the Sabbath day?”

Matthew 23:23
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint, dill, and cumin. But you have disregarded the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Isaiah 1:13-17
Bring your worthless offerings no more; your incense is detestable to Me. New Moons, Sabbaths, and convocations—I cannot endure iniquity in a solemn assembly. / I hate your New Moons and your appointed feasts. They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. / When you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you multiply your prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. ...

Micah 6:6-8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves? / Would the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I present my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? / He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?

Matthew 22:34-40
And when the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they themselves gathered together. / One of them, an expert in the law, tested Him with a question: / “Teacher, which commandment is the greatest in the Law?” ...

Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

Galatians 5:14
The entire law is fulfilled in a single decree: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

James 2:8
If you really fulfill the royal law stated in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.


Treasury of Scripture

And he said to them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace.

Is it.

Mark 2:27,28
And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: …

Hosea 6:6
For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.

Matthew 12:10-12
And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him…

But.

Mark 9:34
But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

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Mark 3
1. Jesus heals the withered hand,
10. and many other infirmities;
11. rebukes the unclean spirit;
13. chooses his twelve apostles;
22. convinces the blasphemy of casting out demons by Beelzebub;
31. and shows who are his brother, sister, and mother.














Then Jesus asked them
In this opening phrase, we see Jesus taking the initiative to engage with the Pharisees and those present. The Greek word for "asked" is "ἐπηρώτησεν" (eperōtēsen), which implies a questioning that seeks to provoke thought or challenge assumptions. Jesus often used questions to reveal deeper truths and to confront the hardened hearts of His listeners. This approach is consistent with His teaching style throughout the Gospels, where He uses questions to lead others to self-reflection and revelation.

Which is lawful on the Sabbath
The term "lawful" here is translated from the Greek word "ἔξεστιν" (exestin), meaning permissible or allowed. The Sabbath, a day of rest instituted by God in the Old Testament, had become burdened with additional human traditions and interpretations by the time of Jesus. The Pharisees had created a complex system of rules regarding what constituted work on the Sabbath. Jesus challenges these interpretations by asking what is truly permissible according to God's original intent for the Sabbath.

to do good or to do evil
This phrase presents a moral dichotomy. The Greek words for "good" (ἀγαθοποιῆσαι, agathopoiēsai) and "evil" (κακοποιῆσαι, kakopoiēsai) highlight the ethical dimension of Jesus' question. By framing the question in terms of good versus evil, Jesus emphasizes that the Sabbath should be a day for promoting life and well-being, not for adhering to legalistic restrictions that prevent acts of mercy and kindness.

to save life or to destroy it?
The contrast between "save" (σῶσαι, sōsai) and "destroy" (ἀποκτεῖναι, apokteinai) underscores the life-giving purpose of God's commandments. The word "save" in Greek carries connotations of healing, preserving, and delivering, which aligns with Jesus' mission to bring salvation and restoration. The Pharisees' focus on strict Sabbath observance had, in some cases, led to neglecting the well-being of individuals, which Jesus points out as contrary to God's desire for life and wholeness.

But they were silent
The silence of the Pharisees, indicated by the Greek word "ἐσιώπων" (esiōpōn), reveals their inability or unwillingness to respond to Jesus' challenge. Their silence is telling; it reflects their internal struggle and the conviction that Jesus' question brings. This moment of silence is significant, as it highlights the tension between human tradition and divine intention, and it sets the stage for Jesus to demonstrate the true spirit of the Sabbath through His actions.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Greek
And
καὶ (kai)
Conjunction
Strong's 2532: And, even, also, namely.

He asked
λέγει (legei)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 3004: (a) I say, speak; I mean, mention, tell, (b) I call, name, especially in the pass., (c) I tell, command.

them,
αὐτοῖς (autois)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative Masculine 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.

“Which is lawful
Ἔξεστιν (Exestin)
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular
Strong's 1832: It is permitted, lawful, possible.

on the
τοῖς (tois)
Article - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 3588: The, the definite article. Including the feminine he, and the neuter to in all their inflections; the definite article; the.

Sabbath:
σάββασιν (sabbasin)
Noun - Dative Neuter Plural
Strong's 4521: The Sabbath, a week.

to do good
ἀγαθὸν¦ποιῆσαι (agathon¦poiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 15: To do that which is good. From agathopoios; to be a well-doer.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

to do evil,
κακοποιῆσαι (kakopoiēsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 2554: To do harm, do wrong, do evil, commit sin. From kakopoios; to be a bad-doer, i.e. to injure, or to sin.

to save
σῶσαι (sōsai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 4982: To save, heal, preserve, rescue. From a primary sos; to save, i.e. Deliver or protect.

life
ψυχὴν (psychēn)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 5590: From psucho; breath, i.e. spirit, abstractly or concretely.

or
(ē)
Conjunction
Strong's 2228: Or, than. A primary particle of distinction between two connected terms; disjunctive, or; comparative, than.

to destroy [it]?”
ἀποκτεῖναι (apokteinai)
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Active
Strong's 615: To put to death, kill; fig: I abolish. From apo and kteino; to kill outright; figuratively, to destroy.

But
δὲ (de)
Conjunction
Strong's 1161: A primary particle; but, and, etc.

they were silent.
ἐσιώπων (esiōpōn)
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural
Strong's 4623: To keep silence, be silent, either voluntarily or involuntarily. From siope; to be dumb; figuratively, to be calm.


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